Decoy anchor device



June 28, 1960 l.. l.. zARUBA 2,942,370

nEcoY ANCHOR DEVICE Filed March 28, 1958 2,942,310 inn'cor ANCHOR DEVICE Leim L. Zamba, Eagle-River, wis. Filed Mar. 2s, 195s, ser. No. 724,593.

i s claims. (ci. 43s) high winds and `wave action, and one which enables the user thereof to throw or cast la decoy to which the anchor device is attached into a body of water.

A further object of the present invention is to. provide an -anchor device for a decoy which is simple in structure, one sturdy in construction and having long-life characteristics, and one which may be economically manufacturedV and assembled in a decoy.

These and other objectsand advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when ,taken in conjunction with the annexed 4 drawing, in which:

YFigure l is an elevational view of a decoy in the shape of a duck, a portion of the body of the duck being broken away to show the anchor device of the present invention in nested condition;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the assembly shown in Figure 1 with the anchor `device in extended condition; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 2.;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing a modified form of the locking means for the anchor device of-the present invention;

Figure 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing, in which' like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, in Figures l to 3, the reference numeral 10 designates a tloating decoy in the shape of a duck of more or less conventional constructional as regards to outline and decoration. The decoyV 10 is fabricated of 'a buoyant material and has an aperture 12 extending inwardly from the base 14 to a point spaced from the top 16. The

anchor device according to the present invention comprises an elongated spring means in the form of a coil spring having its convolutions horizontally disposed, the coil spring being designated by the reference numeral 18.

A portion adjacent one end of the coil spring 18 extends freely into the aperture 12 with that end of the coil spring 18 -fixedly Asecu-red at the bottomaof the aperture, or at the point to which the aperture extend-s inwardly toward the toplof thevdecoy 10,. ilhis attachment is shown in Figure 3,. The portion adjacent the other end of the-coil spring 18 freely depends from the aperture 12 and carries a weight 20 for holding the last-named portion in the freely depending position shown in Figure 2, the decoy [United States Parenti@ Tf -10 `being'substantially upright and the coil spring 18. arranged perpe'ndicularlywith respect to andbeneaththe decoy 10. The weight 20 has a reduced upper. end por- "tion l20'` faroundfwhich is circumposed the lowermost con- `vblutrions of-the coil. spring 18 and t-o which the lowermostaportion of the coil spring 18.is attached..

As shown in Figure ll, the. diameter. of the coil spring 18 and that of the weight 20 is such that they iit within the aperture 12 without a great deal of space between the'exterior surfacev of the coil spring 18 and the inner surface `of the aperture 12. This relatively `snug t prevents the lateral sideways movement of the decoy 10 when the coil spring 18 is in the extended position, the spring 18 being fabricated of such material as to be readilyextendedfrom the nested or compactedcondition shown inFigure l to the extended position shown inv Figure 2, but having resistlance to bending from the perpendicular position when in the extended condition. This resistance to bending of the spring 18 servesito hold thedecoy 10 inthe upright position regardless-'of vstrong winds or Wave action when the Ydecoy is in position upon thesurface of 4a body of water.

Means is provided ion the ilat base 14 of the decoy 10 for securing the weight 20 within the aperture 12 when the coil spring 18 is .in the collapsed or nested condition, as shown in Figure 1. Specifically, this means consists in a pair of latch elements 22, each pivot-ally connected at one end to the base-14 of the decoy 10 for loose swinging movement about such connection from the full line position shown .in Figure 4 to a dotted line position. When in the full line position, the latch'elements 22 extend over the wall of the aperture 12 and bear against the bottom In Figures 5 to 7, an alternative form of connection of.

the weight to the `decoy body when the coil spring is in the contracted condition is shown. In this form.l the weight, designated by the reference numeral 24, is provided witih Van external handle 2-6 and with diametrically opposed lugs 28 which project from the sides of the body of the Weight 24. The lugs 28 are receivable in bayonet slots 30 which lare provided in the wall of the aperture 32 provided in the body l0. The weight 24 has a reduced upper end portion receiving the lower end portion of the coil spring 18' for attachment of the latter to the weight 24. Upon insertion of the weight 24 within the aperture 32, the handle 26 is grasped =by the fingers of the user the lugs 28 .are moved fro-rn the full line position, shown in Figure 5, to the dotted line position within the bayonet slot 30, securely locking the weight 24 in the aperture 32.

In use, the decoy with the anchor device of the present invention is readily and easily taken from Vthe place of transportation and prepared for use as a decoy for wild game. The coil spring 18, 18' with its associated weight 20, 24, is easily removed from the aperture in the decoy with one portion of such spring firmly attached to the terminating point of the aperture in the decoy and the major portion of the spring dependingly hung beneath the decoy as in Figure 2. The weight 2i),y 24, may be unlocked from the latched position and the decoy may be thrown to the surface of the body of water in which it is to be used with the decoy coming to the natural upright position and the spring automatically extending itself to position the spring vertically beneath the decoy with the weight at a distance below the decoy.

When it isv desired to retrieve the decoys using the anchor device of the present invention, it is a'matter of seconds for the user to collapse the spring and insert the spring with the associated weight within the respective aperture and to lock the weight within the aperture. The use of the present invention obviates the use of weights used as anchors and hungbeneath the decoys by strands of cords or ropes which frequently tangle as the decoys H Patentled .rlunew28, 1960 are being placed or retrieved from the surface of the body of water in which they are used.

What is claimed is:

s 1'.' .The combination with a` vfloating' decoyhaving an `aperture extending inwardly from the base tol a point spaced from the top thereof, of an anchor device com- -prising an elongated spring m'eans arranged perpendicularly with respectto said decoy and having the portion adjacent one end extending freely into the aperture with said one end xedly attached within said aperture and having the portion adjacent the other end freely dependving from said aperture, and a weight on the other end of said` spring means for holding the portion adjacent the ther end of said spring means in the freely depending 2.-'1`he'` combination'with a iioating decoy having an laperture yextending inwardly from the baseto a point 'spaced-from the top thereof, of an anchor device com prisirig a coil spring having the convolutions horizontally disposed and in an elongated condition arranged perpen- 20 having the portion adjacent the other end freelyv depending from said aperture, and a weight on the other. end of said coil spring for holding the portion adjacent the other end of said coil spring in the freely depending position.

3. The combination with a oating decoy having an aperture extending inwardly from the base to a point spaced from the top thereof, of an anchor device comprising an elongated spring means arranged perpendicularly with respect to said decoy and having the portion adjacent one end extending freely into the aperture with said one end iixedly attached within said aperture adjacent said point and having the portion adjacent the other end freely depending from said aperture, and a weight on the other end of said spring means for holding the portion adjacent the other end of said spring means in the freely depending position.

f References Cited 'in' the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,389,883 worden Nov. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,631 Great Britain 1905 

